Blancher with automated process control

Abstract

A method of operating a blanching system includes steps of automatically sampling a blanching solution and mixing the sampled blanching solution with a reagent that is formulated to change at least one property according to a concentration of a metal ion in the blanching solution. This property is automatically sensed with an automated sensor and a controller is used to automatically control a concentration of metal ions in the blanching solution in response to a signal that is received from said automated sensor.

1. An automated blanching system, comprising:
 a blancher that is constructed and arranged to blanch vegetables using a blanching solution that contains a metal ion; 
 a metal ion supplier that is configured to permit additional metal ions to be added to said blanching solution; 
 a testing chamber; 
 a conduit for supplying a sample of said blanching solution to said testing chamber; 
 reagent supply means for supplying a reagent to said testing chamber, said reagent being formulated to change at least one property according to a concentration of said metal ion in said blanching solution; 
 an automated sensor for sensing said property; and 
 an automated controller that is in communication with said automated sensor, said automated controller being constructed and arranged to automatically instruct said metal ion supplier to add additional metal ions to said blanching solution in response to a signal from said automated sensor. 
 
     
     
       2. An automated blanching system according to  claim 1 , wherein said metal ion comprises zinc. 
     
     
       3. An automated blanching system according to  claim 2 , wherein said reagent is formulated to change color according to a concentration of said zinc in said blanching solution. 
     
     
       4. An automated blanching system according to  claim 1 , wherein said reagent is formulated to change color according to a concentration of said metal ion in said blanching solution. 
     
     
       5. An automated blanching system according to  claim 1 , wherein said testing chamber comprises a continuous flow chemical analyzer. 
     
     
       6. An automated blanching system according to  claim 4 , wherein said automated sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
       7. An automated blanching system according to  claim 6 , wherein said optical sensor comprises a light source and a light sensor for sensing light from said light source that has been attenuated by said mixed solution of blanching solution and reagent, said light sensor producing a signal that is communicated to said automated controller. 
     
     
       8. An automated blanching system according to  claim 1 , wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to automatically instruct said metal ion supplier to add additional metal ions to said blanching solution when a concentration of said metal ions in said mixed solution of blanching solution and reagent falls beneath a predetermined minimum or will soon reach a state in which the concentration of metal ion will fall below a predetermined minimum. 
     
     
       9. An automated blanching system according to  claim 7 , wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to compare a log of said signal to a predetermined standard. 
     
     
       10. An automated blanching system according to  claim 1 , wherein said automated sensor produces a signal that is communicated to said automated controller and wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to compare a log of said signal to a predetermined standard. 
     
     
       11. A method of operating a blanching system, comprising:
 automatically sampling blanching solution; 
 mixing said sampled blanching solution with a reagent that is formulated to change at least one property according to a concentration of a metal ion in the blanching solution; 
 automatically sensing said property with a automated sensor; and 
 automatically controlling with a controller a concentration of metal ions in said blanching solution in response to a signal that is received from said automated sensor. 
 
     
     
       12. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 11 , wherein said metal ion comprises zinc. 
     
     
       13. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 12 , wherein said reagent is formulated to change color according to a concentration of said zinc in said blanching solution. 
     
     
       14. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 11 , wherein said reagent is formulated to change color according to a concentration of said metal ion in said blanching solution. 
     
     
       15. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 11 , wherein said property is sensed with a continuous flow chemical analyzer. 
     
     
       16. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 14 , wherein said automated sensor comprises an optical sensor. 
     
     
       17. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 16 , wherein said optical sensor comprises a light source and a light sensor for sensing light from said light source that has been attenuated by said mixed solution of blanching solution and reagent, said light sensor producing a signal that is communicated to said automated controller. 
     
     
       18. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 11 , wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to automatically instruct said metal ion supplier to add additional metal ions to said blanching solution when a concentration of said metal ions in said mixed solution of blanching solution and reagent falls beneath a predetermined minimum or is predicted [(by Veri-Green software)] to drop below a predetermined minimum. 
     
     
       19. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 17 , wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to compare a log of said signal to a predetermined standard. 
     
     
       20. A method of operating a blanching system according to  claim 11 , wherein said automated sensor produces a signal that is communicated to said automated controller and wherein said automated controller is constructed and arranged to compare a log of said signal to a predetermined standard.